S BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



the pitch lake of Trinidad, and from it extracted a burn- 

 ing oil for lamps. Afterwards he extracted an illumina- 

 ting oil from coal and other bituminous substances, and 

 in 1854 patented it under the name of Kerosene in the 

 United States. This invention laid the foundation in 

 America of a large industry, leading to the use of jjetro- 

 leum for illuminating purposes and to the enormous 

 petroleum industry as it now exists. "^ 



At the time Dr. Gesner began the manufacture of 

 Kerosene at New York, camphene — a mixture of alcohol 

 and spirits of turpentine and wliale oil — and certain 

 vegetable oils, were with tallow and spermaceti candles 

 used for aifording light as well as gas. 



In the manufacture of oil from coal and bituminous 

 matter, a waxy substance called paraffin was produced in 

 considerable quantity, and in naming the new oil it was 

 thought best to call it " wax oil " from the Greek words 

 keros "wax," and 'elaior "oil," The term "Keroselene" 

 was first proposed and afterwards shortened to "Kerosene" 

 to distinguish oils of this kind , and under that name was 

 patented. 



Even with the best skill at command the first 

 kerosene, or coal oil, as it was also called, had when 

 prepared for market, very considerable odor. The kero- 

 sene oil works on Newton Creek, near Penny Bridge, 



* A copy of this paiagiapL was sent to the CommissLner of Patents, Washing- 

 ton, D. C, U. S. A., with a request for an official confirmation of the claims of Dr. 

 Gesner to this important discovery, and the followin? reply has been received : 

 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTEHIOR. 



United States Patent Office. I 



Washington, D. C , June 4, 1896. \ 



Mb. Percy G. Hall, Secretary of N. H. S. of N. B. 



Market Building, St. John, New Brunswick. 



Sir, — In reply to your letter of May 30th, you are advised that patents Nos. 

 11,303, 11,204 and 11,205 were issued June 27, 1854, to Abraham Gesner, assignor to 

 the Asphalt Mining and Kerosene Gas Co., of Williamsburg, N. Y., for manufacturing 

 kerosene oil. 



Copies of the drawings of above patents can be furnished for ten cents each, 

 and manuscript copies of the specifications for ten cents per hundred words. 



By order of the (.Commissioner. Very respectfully. 



GEO L. MORTON, Chief Clerk. 



Please refer in answer to letter 72,814. Per W. W. H. 



